
Tobecomeahotelclerkyouneedonethingaboveallelse:discipline.Ofcoursethat’snotsoeasyforanadolescent.Shy,fourteen-year-oldLucafindsitespeciallydifficult.Hecanneitherstandstillnorwantstohavehisshaggyredhaircut.He’dratherflirtwithhisteacherduringFrenchlessonsorgohuntinginthelonelyforest.He’sboredbytheequallyrenownedandstuffyhotelmanagementschool,whoseperpetualroutinesgetonhisnerves:foldingnapkins,polishingglasses,listening.Theproblem,though,isthathisfamilyhavegreatexpectationsofhim.<br/> HavinggrownupinatinyAlpinemountainvillage,theboyofcourseknowshowhiswayaroundthecowsonthefarmbackhome.Thesurroundingforestswerehisterritorywherehecouldletoffsteam.Nowschoolissupposedtotamehim,teachhimself-disciplineandultimatelyhelphimfindadecentjob.InrestfulvintageimagestheItaliandirectorDavideMaldiillustratesthetightcorsetofatraininginstitutionthatseemstohavefallenoutoftime.Antiquewoodenfurniture,lemon-yellowwalls,younggentlemeninblackwaistcoatsandbuttoned-upwhiteshirts.Theyprovidethecostumesandsettingofanintimatecoming-of-agestorywhichrevolvesaroundasacrifice:MustLucagiveuphisfreespirittobecome“something”?